THANKSGIVING

Chapter 5

Reid sat with his arm around Luke as his partner dozed, possibly for the first time in over twenty-four hours. He felt the need to protect Luke. Hell, he wanted to protect Ethan and he’d failed miserably. Now he was delegated to sitting in a waiting room.

It wasn’t long before the door to the procedure room swung open and Chris came through. His face was still covered by his surgical mask so no one could see his expression.

“Luke, Reid.” Luke started in response to Chris’ voice.

“Chris?” Luke was so anxious and frightened, yet brave enough to let his feelings show. Reid admired that quality in him.

“Your boy is going to be fine. And as soon as he wakes, we can confirm our initial evaluation. The swelling has gone down and the drain has been removed. Ethan will have to answer the usual questions -- what’s his name, where he lives, how old he is -- and while he’ll be uncomfortable for a while, I suspect there won’t be any residual effects.”

Luke turned to Reid and wrapped his arms around his neck, kissing him squarely on the lips. “He’s going to be okay. Did you hear that?”

“Kind of hard to miss. The kiddy doctor was standing right in front of us while he was talking.”

“Stop it, Reid. You can let down the mask of bravado. Ethan’s going to be fine.”

“I want to be with him when he wakes up.” Reid glared at Chris, daring him to argue.

“No problem.” Chris glanced back at the doors behind him as they opened. Ethan was still asleep on his gurney with Mark by his side.

Before Chris could speak, Mark called toward them all, “Luke, Reid, follow us. We’re taking Ethan to a pediatric neuro room until he starts talking. After that, he’ll be transferred to the general pediatric wing until his discharge.”

“Mark, thank you so much.” Luke brushed his hand over Mark’s arm. “You can’t imagine how much it means to Reid and me that you took such special care of Ethan.”

Mark looked from Reid to Luke. “I think I can.”

Reid followed quietly until they had Ethan settled in his room. “Where’s your other half, Dr. Jenkins?”

Smiling, Mark quickly listened to his young patient’s chest with his stethoscope and then took his pulse. “My better half is arranging to get us all decent brunch food since I imagine you’ve eaten as little as we have.”

Chris patted Reid’s back. “I’m heading to my office to call Katie and Jacob. They were both pretty shaken last night and I’d like to give them some better news than I had last night.”

Before Chris could leave the room, Reid heard a little groaning noise. He barreled past everyone else to get to Ethan. “Hey, kiddo, your dear young Dad is here. Luke’s here too.”

“Hurts.”

Luke quickly moved next to Reid, standing at the side of Ethan’s bed. He touched his younger brother’s fingers. “I know it hurts, buddy. But the doctors are taking care of you. You’ll be fine.”

“Skateboard sucks.”

Huffing, Reid gently ghosted his fingers over the bandage turban on the kid’s head. “Jacob’s older skateboard definitely sucks. You’ll never use it again -- no one will.” Reid was relieved that Ethan had no memory loss. It was an excellent sign.

“Good.” Ethan wiggled the fingers of the hand that wasn’t broken. Luke cradled his hand in his own palm. “Sorry, Luke. Sorry, Dad.”

Inhaling, Reid bit his lip. Hearing Ethan use the title Dad always sent a slight shiver down Reid’s spine. It was an honor he never took for granted. “Nothing to be sorry about, Ethan. We’re just glad you’ll be okay. Next time Uncle Chris will dump Jacob’s old stuff when he replaces it.”

Chris lowered his head.

“Reid,” Luke whispered. “That’s a bit much.”

Glaring at Chris again, Reid tilted his head. “Call Katie and Jacob. They’ll want to know Ethan’s talking.”

Looking directly at Mark, Chris instructed him to complete the cognitive examination.

“Hey, Ethan, who am I?”

“Huh?”

“I know it seems like a ridiculous question. Humor me. Who am I?”

“Dr. Mark.”

“Good.” Mark patted Luke’s shoulder. “Who’s this guy?”

“Luke.” Luke grinned from ear to ear as Ethan responded correctly again.

Patting Reid’s shoulder, Mark addressed Ethan once again. “And who’s this medical egotist?”

The edges of Ethan’s lips curled slightly upward. “My Dad. Your boss.”

Reid chuckled softly. “My kid’s a genius.”

“Yeah, Reid, he probably is. I don’t think I have to ask his age and address. He clearly has no memory loss or confusion.” Mark checked the bandage one last time. “I’m going to leave you with your family for a little while. I’ll be arranging to have you moved to the correct room -- one that we reserve for young people who aren’t too sick.”

“Thank you, Dr. Mark.” Ethan yawned. “I’m kinda tired.”

“You’re still full of some of the best pain meds; enjoy them, and enjoy a nice nap.”

Trying to nod his head, Ethan grimaced.

“Take it easy, kid.” Reid ran a soothing hand up and down Ethan’s good arm. “Rest. Luke and I will be with you the whole time.”

Ethan was asleep almost immediately.

Mark looked directly at Reid and Luke. “I’m going to catch up with Noah. I told him to meet me back in my office. As soon as I arrange for Ethan’s new room, we’ll meet you guys there with brunch in hand.”

Luke chuckled. “Gayest meal of the week.”

Reid huffed. “I don’t do brunch. Noah had better have gotten some solid food. I don’t eat light.”

“No problem, Reid. How long have we known you?” Mark left the room, closing the door behind him.

Ghosting his fingers over Reid’s cheek, Luke kissed him. “You were pretty rough on Chris.”

“He should have dumped that crap as soon as he knew it needed to be replaced -- even before if he knew it wasn’t safe.”

“Reid, I’m sure he didn’t think anyone would use it before he got to it. He just didn’t want to rob Jacob of his possessions without telling him first.”

“He should have robbed him. Jacob would have gotten over it, and Ethan was almost--”

“No, Reid. Don’t go there. Please.” Luke’s eyes were wide.

“I won’t go there, but Chris’ scorecard is getting pretty damned heavy with IOUs.”

“Fine. He’ll be indebted to us forever. We can make him pay by having you force feed him sandwiches for a week.”

“Luke, I’m not joking. Because of him, Jacob’s probably feeling guilty about his cousin too.” Reid knew Luke was trying to diffuse the situation, but this time Reid’s anger couldn’t be quelled. “It was one thing when he nearly killed himself and nearly drove me to malpractice; it’s entirely another when his overly cautious insecurity about his stepson nearly kills my son.”

Luke sighed. “You remind me a lot of my dad right now. I think he would have had the same reaction, same attitude.”

“I always admired Holden. He was a good man, and he loved you, and the rest of his children, more than anything in the world.”

“God, Reid. I wish he could have known I was really his.”

“Remember, Luke. He always considered you his son. I never saw any sign that he treated you any differently than Aaron or Ethan.”

“I miss him.”

“I know.” Reid wrapped his arm around Luke’s waist as he continued to watch Ethan sleep peacefully, still heavily drugged with painkillers.

“Ethan barely remembers him.”

“I know that too.” Reid hugged Luke, drawing him in closer. Luke rested his head on Reid’s shoulder.

“You really are becoming his father, the only one he’ll ever recall as he grows up.”

“Is it hard for you to watch?”

“Sometimes.”

“I figured.”

“I love you, Reid Oliver. Don’t ever leave us. Don’t ever leave me. I need you, and not just as a father for my baby brother.”

“Right back at you, Luke -- for all of it.”

Before they could say anymore, the orderlies came in to move Ethan to his new room.

[TBC]
 

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